Liquid-level gauge



'Nuv. 4- 9 24. J. L, NELSON ET AL.

LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE Filed Nov. 3 1920 WITNESS: I INVENTORS- John'LNHson M John Pm'mct 1-1 T'TORNEY.

v J'QHN I... NHISON AND JOHN PRINCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO UNIVERSAL Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, A- CORPORATION.

LIQUID-LEVEL GAUGE.

Application filed November 1, 1920. Serial Np. 421,149.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN LrNinsoN and JOHN PRINCE, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago,'in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, having-invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Liquid-Level Gauges, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to gauges showing the depth of ii uid in. a liquid-fuel tank for automobiles an the like, and has particular reference to their combination with the cap for the inlet-opening into the tank. The object of the present invention is to simplify, lower the construction cost and make more conveniently operable these combination caps and gauges, and with this general object in view our invention consists of the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In thedrawing I Figure 1 is a perspective view of a broken away section of automobile tank and a perspective view of an embodiment of our invention. applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an edge elevation on an enlarged scale of the gauge removed from the tank together with the cap to which it is attached shown in section and a side view of the graduated gauge-bar or elastic strip broken away at its ends.

Figure 3 is-a plan View of an open packing bdx or case, showing the adaptability of ourim rovement for storing or transportation 511130585.

In the several views 2 represents a gasoline tank provided with the usual threaded flange 3 for the inlet opening 4 to be normally closed by the usual cap 5 having threads 5 to be engaged with the threads of the opening rim 3. For the purposes of the present improvement these parts may be varied in numerous ways.

' In the present invention the cap 5 is resis lieved of the more or less expensive and complicated adpincts or attachments here- .tofore provided for this class of combinations, and has merely a pair of oppositely projecting lugs 6 and 7 which may be either separately attached or cast integral with the cap. The lug or boss 6 is upwardly projected near the periphery of the cap and is or foot of substantlally the same height above the tank top as its flange 3, and its purpose is to support that portion of the cap which is opposite to that which rests on the flange 3, on the same level when-the cap is in 1ts open position as inFigure 1, and to preserve the normal vertical position of the slot 8 to prevent binding therein of the gaugebar 9. On the lower end of, the

latter is the usual float 11, which may be of any desired form or design. The nu; meral 12 indicates the liquid level in the tank.

The upper end of the gauge-strip 9 is bent to form a hook-formed clip or clamp 14 with an outturned lip 15 to be engaged with a, recess 16 in the side of the boss 6 when the cap is closing the opening-4 and the graduated gauge-strip is not in use, thereby holding the latter out of the way. The cap 5 is as free of the tank as any ordinary plain cap in its Figure 1 position. The gauge bar or strip may be of any other suitable cross-sectional form than that shown in the present illustration of our invention. The cap 5 is shown with a top flange 17 to provide a protecting recess for the clip 14 or to prevent an undesirable projection thereof above the cap. The gaugebar may be conveniently made of clockspring material and will then not be damaged by accidental bendings or contacts-with the gauge projecting above the tank as when 111 gauge bars placed through the center of the cap the openin 4 cannot be cleared without removing t he cap indicator and float. The present improvement is designed to operate While the refilling of the tank takes place like permanently attached gauges instead of being merely a measuring bar attached to the cap to insure its presence when needed and serving merely as a plain rule or gauge stick.

We claim as our inventionv 1. A liquid level gauge for tanks compri ing a co adapted to be detachahly fitted to the usua, inlet opening of a storage tank, said cap having a guide slot therethrough, an ullage rod slidably fitting in said guide slot and having gradnations thereon, visible above the cap when in position, a iioet -on the lower end of said rod for supporting the lower end of the some at the surface level of the liquid in the tank, and

means for releasably holding the upper end of said rod to the cap when the rod is drawn down through the cap, said rod being sulfieientlileresihent whereby the rod is adapted to be m: over at its lower end for bringing the float against the cap and folding the deieieeee vice compactly for storage and shipmen and eesy hendling. I I

2. A liquid level gauge for tanks comprising, a. cap adapted to be detachably mounted inthe filling opening'of storage tank and having a guide slot therethrougli and. spaced from the vertical enis the'reof, an allege rod slidably fitting through said giiide slot, a. float on thelower end of the rod for mising and lowering the same with the-rise and fall of the surface level of the contents in the tank, said cap being adapted to be detached from the tank and to be swung to one side in partial overlapping relation to the filling opening of the tank and with the rod and the fioet projecting down into the tank, said cap having a depending lug at its side remote from the rod to support the cap horizontally on the edge of the flange surrounding the tank opening and permit the free vertical movement of the rod when filling the tank.

In testimony whereof wehave hereunto signed our names.

JOHN L. NELSON. JOHN PRINCE. 

